Hayley Schmidt

Hayley is a freelance contemporary dance artist, choreographer, educator and mentor whose career spans performance, choreography, artistic leadership and tertiary dance education across Australia and abroad. 

Hayley’s formative training at WAAPA was shaped by the mentorship of Dame Lucette Aldous, Reyes de Lara & Sue Peacock alongside opportunities to perform with Shih Gee-Tze, touring Taiwan with ACME Physical Theatre.

During her training she was awarded the prestigious Dame Peggy van Praagh Award before graduating with a scholarship to dance with the Merce Cunningham Foundation in New York City.

After NYC Hayley relocated to London to undertake an extensive audition tour throughout Europe, ultimately securing a full-time contract with Diversions Dance Company in Wales. Although a significant knee injury brought her international performing career to an unexpected close, it also marked the beginning of a rich and diverse career encompassing yoga, somatic intelligence, choreography, rehearsal direction, mentorship and refined movement & dance education.

On return to Australia Hayley worked alongside Ruth Osborne as Assistant Artistic Director of Quantum Leap Youth Dance Company and performed with several independent contemporary Dance companies before returning to Perth to join Buzz Dance Theatre and engage with STRUT Dance on various performance and choreographic projects. 

With over a decade of teaching at WAAPA, LINK Dance Co and Co3 Contemporary Dance Company - Hayley is recognised for her nuanced approach to movement, drawing together contemporary dance, somatic practice and choreographic inquiry to motivate highly articulate, curious and expressive dancers.  

As a choreographer, Hayley aspires to create work that challenges societal norms, elevates collective consciousness and inspires integrity in both artists and audiences.